Saddle-cushion.



PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

R. J. BENBOW.

SADDLE GUSHION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1906. I

W1 TNESSES':

A TTORNE 1 5 RICHARD JAMES BENBOW, OF MILLIGAN, FLORIDA.

SADDLE-CUSHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

application filed July 16, 1906. serial No. 326,453.

T0 at lull/07m it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD JAMEs BEN- now, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milligan, in the county of Santa Rosa and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Saddle-Cushion, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to saddle cushions.

It is well known that those who are forced to spend long periods of time in the saddle are frequently subjected to serious discomforts due usually to the hard unyielding nature of the saddle.

The object of the present invention is to provide an extremely strong, simple, durable, inexpensive and thoroughly efficient pneumatic saddle cushion which can be easily and quickly secured. upon the upper surface of a saddle and inflated to any desired degree so as not only to produce a soft yielding seat but also to permit the circulation of air. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification: Figure 1 is a top plan View of the improved saddle cushion applied to a saddle. tion thereof.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The improved saddle cushion of this invention, which is indicated by the reference numeral 1, is shaped to conform tothe exterior of a saddle and is formed of a single piece of tubing having at the outer end thereof an air cap or valve 2 which is adapted to be removed to permit the connection of an air pump or similar device by means of which the cushion can be inflated to the desired degree. While the single piece of flexible tubing of which the cushion is formed can be folded on itself in any desired manner to produce the necessary shape of cushion, it is pre- Fig. 2 is a transverse secferred that said tubing be wound in volute form, as shown. The convolutions of the cushion at the inner port-ion thereof are so arranged as to provide a central air space or clearance 3.

Extending transversely across the central portion of the saddle cushion 1 is a supplemental strip or tube 4 which preferably is connected with all the diiferent'folds of the flexible tube of the cushion 1 so as to bind the same securely in assembled position and also communicates with each of the convolutions to permit the quick circulation of air' throughout said device without requiring the same to pass longitudinally from one end to the other thereof, the supplemental tube 4 producing a plurality of by-passages between the different convolutions, and constituting thereby a combined. reinforce and air-distributer. At each of its ends the transversely extending supplemental tube 4 is provided with a pair of converging elastic straps 5 which are adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the girth rings of the saddle so as to secure the cushion firmly in position.

It will be apparent that by regulating the amount of air which is supplied to the improved saddle cushion, the proper degree of softness can be readily secured.

A marked advantage of the air cushion of the present invention resides in the fact that by using the single strip of flexible tubing, the desired amount of resiliency or flexibility can be secured and yet the air can be prevented from collecting in one or two portions of the cushion and thus forming enlarged bags as is the case where one or more pillowshaped air receptacles are employed. For this reason the air is distributed evenly throughout the cushion even when the weight of the rider is resting upon one por tion thereof. Another marked advantage of the present cushion resides in the fact that the convolutions ofthe flexible tubing are sufficiently separated from each other to form air channels whereby to ventilate the cushion. Furthermore, this same result is aided by the central air space 3.

By reason of its simplicity of construction the improved saddle cushion can be placed upon the market at small expense.

What is claimed is: p

1. A saddle cushion consisting of an inreinforcing and air-distributing tube secured 10 to and communicating with each of the convolutions, and attaching members combined With the cushion.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses:

RICHARD JAMES BENBOW.

Witnesses:

J. B. MOKEITHEN, P. D. FRANKLIN. 

